Dessert Recipes: Creme Fraiche Aux Fruits - French Cream With Fruit

What Is Creme Fraiche?

By definition, purchased or homemade creme fraiche is a dairy product produced by a process similar to that of preparing sour cream except that no ingredients are added. In French it means 'heavy cream'. You can make this at home by adding a small amount of cultured buttermilk to heavy cream. You then allow it to stand out for several hours at room temperature until bacterial cultures begin to act on the cream.

The French use creme fraiche for many things such as thickening or enriching soups and sauces to using as a garnish on pastries and desserts. This dessert choice uses creme fraiche and makes an elegant yet simple dessert in minutes. It would also be great to use in mashed potatoes. This dessert recipe is a tweak from my Betty Crocker's International Cookbook from the 1970s. It goes to show some things are timeless!

How To Make Creme Fraiche

Let stand at room temperature (about 70 degrees) for 8-24 hours - or until it thickens.

Stir well and refrigerate.

This will last in the refrigerator for 10 days.

USES FOR CREME FRAICHE

Spoon over fresh fruits, puddings or warm cobblers

It may be boiled into recipes because it will not curdle

Thicken soups or sauces with it

Add to mashed potatoes instead of milk

Cream Anglaise Aux Fruits - Creamy Custard On FruitCreme anglaise is a pourable French custard and is most often used as a dessert cream or sauce, although it can be eaten 'stand alone". It also surprisingly can be used in ices or ice cream as well. This...